The Baby Beebee Bird

by Diane Redfield Massie, Steven Kellogg (Illustrator)

Overview

'Hooray for the return of the baby beebee bird' – Kirkus Reviews.

It's night time at the zoo, and all the animals are wide awake. The new baby beebee bird is keeping everyone up with his happy night song. Will they ever get some sleep?

In this newly enlarged and full–colour edition, Diane Redfield Massie's classic story has been lovingly re–illustrated by the award–winning Steven Kellogg, creating a captivating bedtime story that is just as much fun as a visit to the zoo!

Ages 3–6

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060517847
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/29/2003
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 12.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Diane Redfield Massie is the author/illustrator of many popular children's books. Among other awards she has received are two from the Mystery Writers of America, for Chameleon Was A Spy and for Chameleon the Spy and the Case of the Vanishing Jewels. She has also written and directed musical plays for children. Before moving to the New York area, she was principal oboist with the Honolulu Symphony. Mrs. Massie lives in New Jersey.

Steven Kellogg was "moved by the simplicity, the subtleties, and the poignance of the writing in this story." He welcomed the opportunity to reillustrate it in full color. Mr. Kellogg is an award-winning author and illustrator who has created more than one hundred children's books, including The Three Little Pigs, Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett. He is the illustrator of Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town and The Baby Beebee Bird. Mr. Kellogg is a recipient of the David McCord Citation and the Regina Medal for his distinguished contribution to children's literature. He lives with his wife, Helen, in upstate New York.

Editorial Reviews

Massie's zoo tale from 1963 gets a colorful remake, thanks to a set of typically effervescent illustrations from Kellogg (The Three Sillies, 1999, etc.). Just as the zoo's drowsy denizens are beginning to drift off after closing time, a piercing "beebee bobbibobbi beebee bobbibobbi" rings through the night from the newly arrived baby beebee bird. Cheerfully ignoring a collective roar to PIPE DOWN, the nocturnal singer keeps everyone sleepless until dawn. Weariness and annoyance are writ hilariously large on the faces of Kellogg's rumpled menagerie the morning after. Eager to prevent another long night, the animals bellow out their own "BEEBEEBOBBI" chorus to keep the beebee bird awake all day, so that by nightfall everyone, bird included, is ready for slumber land. Changes in typeface, size, and color add visual interest as well as cues for volume and pacing; simplified backgrounds, often just a large disk representing the sun or moon, will help keep the more easily distracted viewers' attention on the animals. The new oversized format is a distinct improvement, too, since the original was difficult to use in a group setting. Young listeners will find the invitation to chime in on the Beebee Bird's irritating continuo utterly irresistible, but this makes an eminently suitable candidate for bedtime reading nonetheless. Hooray for the return of the baby beebee bird. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews